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Jeffrey Escoffier records of The Gay Alternative include records of the magazine and a small amount of Jeffrey Escoffier's personal papers. The collection includes original documents (many hand-written) that pertain to the activities of the magazine, such as administrative forms, financial statements, and internal as well as external correspondence. The bulk of the collection, however, is manuscripts, some with editors' corrections, which were subsequently published in the magazine (or not). Finally, it includes personal papers of Jeffrey Escoffier, including a paper he delivered to the Homosexual Community Counseling Center Conference on Vocational Guidance and Gay Lifestyles in 1974 in New York.

The collection may interest researchers who desire an understanding of one of Philadelphia's first gay literary magazines. It provides a thorough look at the operation of The Gay Alternative as well as provides a personal look at some of the work of Jeffrey Escoffier from 1972 to 1976. The papers reveal attitudes and beliefs of one segment of the gay community through essay, commentary, poetry, letters, etc.

The collection is organized in three series: "I. Original manuscripts" organized by author's last name; "II. 'The Gay Alternative' administrative records"; and "III. Jeffrey Escoffier papers." An inventory is provided below.